I thought I would write about it when I first got home, but here it is almost 7 months after the fact. Last October I rode solo to Panama City from Carrollton. When I went to bed that night I had a suitcase and my bike bags sitting on the love seat in my bedroom. At that time I had not committed to riding. Even though I had put a new back wheel on and changed the oil, I still was not sure.
When I woke up the next morning I just decided to do it. It took me about an hour to get everything packed and tied down. My family knew I was going to Thunder Beach, but they thought I was going in my car. I decided it was best to let them continue thinking that thought until I arrived safely.
My biggest concern starting out was the fear of biting off more than I could chew. I figured if I got too tired I could just stop and spend the night on the road. Maybe it was the adrenaline pumping, but I really did not get tired until about the last hour. It was dark and cold by this time. I stopped somewhere for a cup of coffee, hooked up with a married couple and rode with them until they turned off short of my destination farther down the beach.
My friend from Carrollton had called the hotel desk to make sure I made it there. We talked a bit after I checked in. My room overlooked the ocean on the 17th floor. I opened the doors, took a shower and collapsed in bed. But I couldn't fall asleep. I was so excited and just plain tickled with myself that I got up and sat outside.
The ride down had been everything I had always thought it would be. The countryside was breathtaking. Lush and still green, hay in the fields, no traffic. Not even any bikers. I guess they were already there by Friday. Finally, I did wind down and went to bed. Slept like a baby. I awoke to the sound of bikes below. Time to get moving...
I'm not a party girl or a person who will drink and drive any motorized vehicle so hanging out at a bar was not for me. I did check out a few, but mostly I kept to myself. My favorite thing was riding down south of Panama City. Another thing checked off my bucket list. The ocean was so beautiful, so calming. I am always drawn to its beauty.
Nothing exciting about being there other than the scenery. This was truly a case where the journey was more fun than the destination. After a couple of days and two t-shirts later, I headed home. The last hour was pretty brutal in the cold darkness. Never, ever, has my bed felt so warm and and comfy. I just wished for someone to snuggle up with and revel in my triumph. And I did feel very triumphant!

I thought I would write about it when I first got home, but here it is almost 7 months after the fact. Last October I rode solo to Panama City from Carrollton. When I went to bed that night I had a suitcase and my bike bags sitting on the love seat in my bedroom. At that time I had not committed to riding. Even though I had put a new back wheel on and changed the oil, I still was not sure. When I woke up the next morning I just decided to do it. It took me about an hour to get everything packed and tied down. My family knew I was going to Thunder Beach, but they thought I was going in my car. I decided it was best to let them continue thinking that thought until I arrived safely. My biggest concern starting out was the fear of biting off more than I could chew. I figured if I got too tired I could just stop and spend the night on the road. Maybe it was the adrenaline pumping, but I really did not get tired until about the last hour. It was dark and cold by this time. I stopped somewhere for a cup of coffee, hooked up with a married couple and rode with them until they turned off short of my destination farther down the beach. My friend from Carrollton had called the hotel desk to make sure I made it there. We talked a bit after I checked in. My room overlooked the ocean on the 17th floor. I opened the doors, took a shower and collapsed in bed. But I couldn't fall asleep. I was so excited and just plain tickled with myself that I got up and sat outside. The ride down had been everything I had always thought it would be. The countryside was breathtaking. Lush and still green, hay in the fields, no traffic. Not even any bikers. I guess they were already there by Friday. Finally, I did wind down and went to bed. Slept like a baby. I awoke to the sound of bikes below. Time to get moving... I'm not a party girl or a person who will drink and drive any motorized vehicle so hanging out at a bar was not for me. I did check out a few, but mostly I kept to myself. My favorite thing was riding down south of Panama City. Another thing checked off my bucket list. The ocean was so beautiful, so calming. I am always drawn to its beauty. Nothing exciting about being there other than the scenery. This was truly a case where the journey was more fun than the destination. After a couple of days and two t-shirts later, I headed home. The last hour was pretty brutal in the cold darkness. Never, ever, has my bed felt so warm and and comfy. I just wished for someone to snuggle up with and revel in my triumph. And I did feel very triumphant!